Table with adjustable top



April 26, 1955 o. c. HoLLs'rElN 2,707,137

TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE ToP Filed Feb. 26, 1952 She'etS-Sheet l |NVENTOR Q C ol/fein ATTORNEY April 26, 1955 o. c. HoLLsTElN TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE TOP 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1952 ATTORNEY April 26, 1955 o. C. HoLLfsTElN TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE TOP 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1952 RA om Te V/ C. 0

ATTORNEY April 26, 1955 o. c. HoLLsTElN TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE TOP 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26, 1952 faa/Mgd,

ATTORNEY April 26, 1955 o. c. HoLLsTElN TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE TOP 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 26, 1952 L v 0 W m v m ATTORNEY -Aprll 26, 1955 o. c. HoLLsTElN TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE TOP 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 26, 1952 vPA .alf-1 in! mgl United States Patent O TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE TOP Oswald Conrad Hollstein, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to F-R Machine Works, Long Island City, N. Y., a firm Application February 26, 1952, Serial No. 273,390

Claims. (Cl. 3116) This invention relates to tables and more particularly to mobile tables nding use especially in hospitals.

In one of its more specific aspects this invention is directed to mobile X-ray tables which may be used for a number of different purposes in a hospital. These novel tables permit the ready and easy placing of a patient thereon, transportation to the X-ray room, then to the operating room and finally to the bedroom, thus requiring handling of the patient only twice, onto the table and then to the bed because these tables may serve not only as supports during transportation, but also during the taking of the X-rays and also during operation. These tables are especially useful in those cases where excessive handling is to be avoided.

In addition, they are particularly useful in those cases where in addition to transportation, the patient may have to be moved back or forth without moving the entire table, or up or down to locate the patient in a particular horizontal plane, or to tilt the patient at a particular angle to the vertical. All of the foregoing may be accomplished without removing the patient from the table.

These, as well as other, advantages and objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a novel table embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is taken on line II-II of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the table shown in Fig. l, but with the top and the top operating mechanism omitted.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and illustrates varlous angulations of the table top.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line VI-Vl of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on line IX-lX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 6.

Fig. ll is a cross sectional view taken on line Xl--Xl of Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view taken on line XII-XII of Fig. l1.

As shown in the drawings, one form of X-ray table embodying the invention, comprises a base 10 which is of generally U shape, having an elongated hollow side 11 and a pair of hollow ends 12 and 13 which are shorter than side 11 and are parallel to each other. Secured to base 10 are four large caster rollers 8. Mounted on the base 10 is a casting 15 rigidly secured thereto at one end of side 11. Casting 15 has a bearing 16 for a two piece shaft 17 which is also carried by a bearing 18 mounted in the side 11. The shaft 17 consists of two permanently interlockcd parts 19 and 20 so that the length of shaft 17 may be varied at will. The shaft part 19 has a double flange collar 21 keyed thereto. Located between the flanges of collar 21 in a cam roller 23 eccentrically carried by a rotatable pin 24, having a short handle 25 and carried by the casting 15. Secured to the short part of the shaft 17 is a bevel gear 26, and secured to the other part 19 of shaft 17 are a pair of spaced oppositely disposed bevel gears 27 and 28. The handle 26 may be rotated to swing 2,707,137 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 rice cam roller 23 to either the left or right to slide the shaft part 19 to dispose either gear 27 or 28 in operative position. The bevel gear 26 meshes with a bevel gear 29 secured to one end of a shaft 30 carried by bearings 31 in side 13. The other end of shaft 30 has a bevel gear 32 secured thereto. Secured to the side 13 is another bracket 33. The brackets 15 and 33 are rigidly secured to base 10. Secured to brackets 15 and 33 and extending upwardly therefrom and at an angle thereto are hollow columns 34 and 35 respectively.

These columns 34 and 35 are rigidly `and fixedly connected to the respective brackets 15 and 33 and are always maintained in the same position with respect to the base 10. The columns 34 and 35 serve as supports and guides and have respective telescopic supporting columns 36 and 37 therein. These columns 36 and 37 are threaded at their lower ends and make threaded connections with respective threaded shafts 38 and 39. Said shafts 38 and 39 are journalled in bearings at the lower ends of columns 34 and 35 respectively, and carry bevel gears 40 and 41 respectively. Said gears 40 and 41 respectively mesh with bevel gears 29 and 32 so that upon rotation of the shaft 30 in one direction the screws 38 and 39 are rotated to cause the columns 36 and 37 to move upwardly. When rotation of shaft 30 is in the opposite direction, columns 36 and 37 are caused to be moved downwardly. The direction of rotation of shaft 30 is determined by which of the particular bevel gears 27 and 28 is in operative position or meshing engagement with gear 26.` Also mounted on the shaft 30 is a sprocket 42 over which is mounted a drive chain 43 which is also coupled to a drive sprocket 44, actuatable by a crank wheel 9 carried at the end of an extension of the supporting bracket 15.

Mounted in the side 12 is a rotatable shaft 45 having bevel gears 46 and 47 secured to the ends thereof. The shaft 45 is mounted in bearings 48 and 49 carried in the side 12 and one end of the shaft is also mounted in a bearing 50 carried by the side 12. Supporting brackets 51 and 52 are swingably supported on the base 10. The bracket 51 is mounted on a bearing carried by a short stud shaft 53 secured to side 11 and also on a bearing carried by and freely mounted on the shaft 45 at one end thereof, The bracket 52 is mounted on bearings carried by and freely mounted on the shaft 45 at the other end thereof. Columns 54 and 55 are rigidly secured to brackets 51 and 52 and respectively carry telescopic supporting columns 56 and 57. The lower ends of columns 56 and 57 are threaded and make threaded engagement with screws 58 and 59 whose plain lower ends are journalled in the lower portions of columns 54 and 5S respectively. Said screws 58 and 59 at their lower ends respectively carry bevel gears 60 and 61 which respectively mesh with the bevel gears 46 and 47, which upon rotation serve to move the columns 56 and 57 up or down depending upon the direction of rotation of shaft 45. Fxedly secured to the upper end of each of the columns 37 and 57 is a U-shaped bearing bracket 60 and fixedly secured to the columns 36 and 56 respectively are similar U-shaped brackets 61 and 62.

Table top supporting strips 63 and 64, disposed parallel to each other, are respectively connected to columns 36-56 and columns 37-57. Each end of the strip 63 carries a bracket bearing 65. One of said brackets 65 is pivotally coupled with the bracket 60, carried by column 37, through a short stud shaft 66. The other bracket 65, as shown in Fig. 6, is coupled with the other bracket 60, carried by column 57, through a shaft 67 which extends in the space between one end of supporting strips or plates 63 and 64 to couple the plates 63 and 64. One end of strip 64 carries a housing bracket 68 which is coupled with the bracket 62 through the shaft 67. The shaft 67 carries, within bracket 68, a sprocket wheel 69 which is freely rotatable thereon. The other end of strip 64 carries a housing bracket 70 which is coupled with bracket 61 through a stud shaft 71. Located within the bights of the brackets 66', 61 and 62 and freely rotatable on the shafts 66, 67 and 71, are table top supporting rollers 72. Resting on said rollers 72 is a table top 73.

The table top 73 has elongated guide flanges 74 extending the length thereof and said flanges 74 are disposed outside of the strips 63 and 64. The table top 73 has lower guide flanges 75 located close to and below the inner lower marginal faces of plates 63 and 64. Depending from the table top 73 are a pair of housings 76, each carrying a pair of shafts 77 on which are rotatably mounted sprockets 78. Communicating with the housings 76 is an elongated tube housing 79.

The shaft 71 has freely mounted thereon a combination sprocket 80 and worm wheel 81 xedly coupled to each other and freely movable in unison on shaft 71. Meshing with the worm wheel 81 is a worm gear 82 carried at one end of a shaft 83 journalled in bracket 70. The other end of the shaft 83 has a handle or crank 84 connected thereto. The worm gear 82 meshing with the worm wheel 81 serves as a drive for gear 82 and also as a lock therefor. One end of a chain 85 is anchored to one of the housings 76 and this chain passes therefrom around sprockets 69, a pair of sprockets 78, through tube 79 around the other pair of sprockets 78 around sprocket 80 and its other end is anchored to the other housing 76 (see Fig. ll). Upon actuation of the handle 84 it drives the worm gear, which in turn drives the chain 85 so that the table top may be moved lengthwise back and forth on the guide and supporting strips 63 and 64. By the employment of the worm gear 82 and wheel 81, an automatic lock is acquired when worm gear 82 is stationary.

The operation of this unique table is as follows: If it is desired to move the table top 73 in the righthand direction and to the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 4, this may be easily and readily accomplished by merely actuating the handle 84 in the appropriate direction. Thus by rotation of the handle 84 the position of table top 73 with respect to base 10 may be varied as required. When it is desired to raise or lower the table top 73 to vary its horizontal position with respect to the floor, for example, this may be done by shifting the handle 25 towards the right as shown in Fig. 4 to shift the shaft part 19 towards the right whereupon gear 27 is moved to and locked in inoperative position and gear 28 is moved to and locked in operative position, whereby gear 28 is in meshing engagement with gear 46. Then the wheel 9 is rotated to rotate shaft 30, which in turn rotates the screws 38 and 39 and also rotates shaft 17 which in turn rotates shaft 45 which in turn rotates screws 58 and 59. In this manner, columns 36, 37, 56 and 57 may be simultaneously raised or lowered in unison. When it is desired to tilt the table from horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4 to the tilted position as shown in full lines of Fig. 5, the handle 25 is turned to the left whereupon gear 28 is disengaged 'and gear 27 is engaged with gear 26. Then the wheel 9 is rotated causing rotation of shaft 30 causing rotation of the screws 38 and 39 in one direction and also rotation of shaft 17 in turn causing rotation of the shaft 45 which in turn causes rotation of the screws 58 and 59 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the screws 36 and 37, whereupon the vertical movement of the columns 36 and 37 is in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the columns 56 and 57. In this general manner tilting the table to the positions either shown in full or dotted lines of Fig. 5, depending what is required at the moment, may be readily accomplished without disturbing the patient.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A table comprising a base, a top, means carried by said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said top supported by said means, means for moving said top back and forth along its longitudinal axis while said base is stationary, and means for moving said top vertically with respect to said base while maintaining said top at substantially the same angle to the horizontal and also for tilting said top while the base is stationary, said last mentioned means including a variable length drive shaft a bevel gear secured to one end of said shaft and a pair of oppositely disposed bevel gears at the other end of said shaft, said tirst mentioned bevel gear always being located in the same position and the position of said oppositely disposed bevel gears being variable while that of said first mentioned bevel gear remains unchanged when the length of said drive shaft is varied.

2. A table comprising a base, a pair of extensible supports rigidly secured to said base at one end thereof and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of extensible supports pivotally secured to said base at the other end thereof, a top, said top carried by said supports, all of said supports being pivotally coupled with said top, means for simultaneously increasing the length of both pairs of supports and to increase the length of one pair of said supports while decreasing the length of the other pair of said supports, said means including a variable length shaft and a pair of oppositely disposed bevel gears at one end thereof.

3. A table comprising a base, a pair of extensible supports rigidly secured to said base at one end thereof and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of extensible supports pivotally secured to said base at the other end thereof, a top, said top carried by said supports, all of said supports being pivotally coupled with said top means for simultaneously increasing the length of both pairs of supports and to increase the length of one pair of said supports while decreasing the length of the other pair of said supports, a screw operatively coupled with each of said extensible supports to vary the length thereof upon rotation of said screw, a shaft operatively connected to the screws of said tirst pair of supports, a shaft operatively connected to the screws of said other pair of supports, a shaft operatively connected to said first mentioned shaft and adapted to be operatively variably connected to said second shaft to actuate all the screws in one direction and one set of screws in one direction and the other set in the opposite direction.

4. A table comprising a base, a pair of extensible supports rigidly secured to said base at one end thereof and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of extensible supports pivotally secured to said base at the other end thereof, a top, said top carried by said supports, all of said supports being pivotally coupled with said top means for simultaneously increasing the length of both pairs of supports and to increase the length of one pair of said supports while decreasing the length of the other pair of said supports, a screw operatively coupled with each of said extensible supports to vary the length thereof upon rotation of said screw, a bevel gear secured to each of said screws, a shaft, a bevel gear carried by each end of said shaft and meshing with the gears of the screws operatively coupled with said first pair of supports, an-

other shaft, bevel gears carried by said other shaft and meshing with the gears of the screws operatively coupled with said other pair of supports and a variable length shaft, a gear secured to said variable length shaft and meshing with one of the gears carried by said rst mentioned shaft, a pair of bevel gears carried by said variable length shaft at the other end thereof and being oppositely disposed and means for varying the length of said variable length shaft to operatively connect either of said aforementioned gears with a gear carried by said second mentioned shaft.

5. A table comprising a base, a pair of supporting columns rigidly secured to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a screw carried by each of said columns and a bevel gear secured to each of said screws, another pair of supporting columns secured to said base at the other end thereof and being swingable with respect to said base, a screw carried by each of said swingable supporting columns and a bevel gear carried by each of said last mentioned screws, a supporting element operatively connected to each of said screws and being vertically movable with respect to said base upon rotation of said screws, a shaft carried by said base, a pair 0f bevel gears secured to said shaft and meshing with the bevel gears secured to said first mentioned screws, a shaft carried by said base, a pair of bevel gears connected to said second mentioned shaft and meshing with said bevel gears secured to said second mentioned pair of screws, a variable length shaft, a bevel gear secured to one end thereof and meshing with one of the bevel gears on said first mentioned shaft and another pair of bevel gears disposed in opposing relationship, means for driving one of said shafts and means for locking in meshing relationship with one of the bevel gears of said second mentioned shaft or either of the said oppositely disposed gears.

(References on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Von Eschen Nov, 14, 1905 Flanders Apr. 16, 1907 5 Ashby et a1. Nov. 18, 1913 Rickard Aug. 16, 1938 6 Bell Oct. 15, 1940 Morey et a1 2- May 20, 1941 Koenigkramer June 20, 1950 Lindquist Sept. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Apr. 20, 1922 

